During 1940 both Adolf Galland and Helmut Wicks Bf109E`s seemed to have had many photographs taken of them at various stages of their association with said pilots. However i have hardly ever seen photographs of the 109E`s used by Molders during the Battle of Britain. I know that Molders was not an extrovert like Galland and Wick but i am surprised that very few photographs showing the camouflage and markings of Molders fighter are out there. Am i wrong in assuming not many pictures were taken or am i just not looking in the right places?.
By: Clint Mitchell - 18th October 2013 at 22:30
That’s right Andy, Asmus got left behind by Mölders in his faster F-1. Asmus found himself on his own against a full squadron of new MkV spits (Asmus’s reckoning because of the altitude they were at) apparently put into operation that day and to his dismay flying about 2500 ft higher than he was. So he flew towards a group of German aircraft and levelled out below them. Unluckily the German bombers then noticed the squadron of Spits that were on his tail and jettisoned their bombs. One of the bombs hit his Bf109E-4/N WNr.3737. When Asmus regained consciousness still strapped into his seat with not a lot of Bf109 left around him, he undid the buckle and the seat fell off so he could release his parachute. The next thing he remembers is that he woke up in Maidstone Hospital. The intelligence Officer wondered what on earth had happened to his aircraft because it was scattered over most of Kent. Although probably not very funny at the time I did have a quiet chuckle when I first heard the story. 🙂
By: Arabella-Cox - 18th October 2013 at 20:03
Just an aside, really, but Molders was flying his brand new Me 109 F-1 on 25 October 1940 and Oblt Hans Asmus was shot down flying Molders’ usual Me 109 E. When RAF intelligence inspected the wreck they found the rudder marked with an impressive tally – which gave the intelligence guys a bit of a headache since, unsurprisingly, they had never of this ‘ace’ Hans Asmus!
By: wizardofthenorth - 18th October 2013 at 19:55
I know it is still a big work in progress, but totally look forward to the ‘Eagles over Europe’ volumes making it to print.
Oh god here we go :D. Perhaps you’re right I tend to personally think of the Battle of Britain as Adlertag and beyond. Yellow tactical markings etc from the Luftwaffe point of view. With regards to Mölders Bf109s watch this space as they have all been chronicled from September 1939 right the way thru to the end of 1940 as ultra accurate 5 view profiles for the Eagles Over Europe project. 🙂
By: Clint Mitchell - 18th October 2013 at 15:30
Clint the force landing did occur in the accepted period of the Battle of Britain- 10th July- 31st October 1940.
Oh god here we go :D. Perhaps you’re right I tend to personally think of the Battle of Britain as Adlertag and beyond. Yellow tactical markings etc from the Luftwaffe point of view. With regards to Mölders Bf109s watch this space as they have all been chronicled from September 1939 right the way thru to the end of 1940 as ultra accurate 5 view profiles for the Eagles Over Europe project. 🙂
By: One of the Few - 18th October 2013 at 15:07
Thank you for the responses gentlemen. The photographs posted are the ones i have seen before except for one where Molders is in the cockpit with a member of the groundcrew closing the canopy. His Emils do seem to have been camera shy!. Clint the force landing did occur in the accepted period of the Battle of Britain- 10th July- 31st October 1940 so it would be good to see the photographs if they surface. As Molders was one of the top aces i would have thought that Magazines such as SIGNAL would have had many photographs of him and his 109E from various angles in their publications. To coin a phrase from elsewhere, Molders must have been “The One that got away!” .
By: Clint Mitchell - 18th October 2013 at 10:50
Two photos that I know of exist of this aircraft. One (port side) on the ground after the FL and one (starboard side) on a recovery truck. Sadly these photos are in a private collection. But you’re correct in that it does have a rather large non standard Swastika on the tail. I omitted it from the list of his aircraft above as It’s just outside the BOB imo.
By: Arabella-Cox - 18th October 2013 at 10:22
Are there any photos of the Bf-109E-3, in which he made a forced-landing in France (St Ingelvert) after combat with 41 Squadron Spitfires on July 28th 1940?
I understand it was just after he took command of JG51, and was the former commander’s aircraft (Ob. Theo Osterkamp), and was adorned with extra-large swastikas on the tail.
Simon
By: Clint Mitchell - 18th October 2013 at 06:25
Theres actually quite a few photos of Mölders Bf109Es in the BOB. If I remember correctly he specifically had three (WNr.2804, WNr.5915, & WNr.3737) whilst with JG51 and an brand Bf109F-1 (WNr.5628) SG+GW as seen in the photo linked above that he was using in October. Wick on the other hand used one aircraft (WNr.5344) during the whole of the battle, until he was shot down into the channel in it, off the Isle of Wight in November. I don’t think it was extrovert of the pilots. You may have a point with Galland though. These aces were the equivalent of modern day football stars in their day. It was everyone else who wanted photographs of them. Add to that the propaganda value. Luckily for us many of these photos have survived. 🙂
By: bazv - 18th October 2013 at 05:39
There are a couple if you google image Werner Molders (You probably have)
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October 18, 2013 at 12:15 am